Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-08
MONSIEUR ALEXIS

He never put himself too much in
evidence. If he made no advances to his
fellow travellers on shipboard, he did not
repel casual chat with any one who
talked with him.
The waiter who had charge Of his berth
had only seen a sick man in the state
room, and there was reason for it, for the
weather at the start had been bad.
I" Monsieur was not exacting, and so
the waiter was glad when monsieur got
quite well again. Indeed, it was very
remarkable recovery, for when monsieur
was dressed and came on deck. he seemed
to have grown ten, fifteen years younger
No one, indeed, had taken any particular
notice of the gentleman. 1t had been
cold and raw in Liverpool, and heavy
coats and shawls were in demand, so
monsieur had worn thick muller around
his neck, which had been drawn up to
his eyes, and he had coughed great
deal. When he had crawled up the gang
plank with feeble, hating step, the
surgeon, who was sharp enough, had
said to himself: There's passenger
who is going TO be nuisance, calling me
up at all hours of the night" But
that passenger never did disturb the
the surgeon, and so was forgotten.
Monsieur might have found companions
among the foreign element on board, but
he did not seem to banker after such
acquaintanceship. 1t was apparent that
espoke number of languages, and all
fairly well. There was Miss McBiddie,
of Denver, who tried her Italian on him,
and he bore it without wincing. Miss
MeBiddie's acquaintanceship had COM
menced when monsieur had very adroitly
prevented an oil cruet from pouring its
contents over her dress. He was quietly,
not obtrusively, polite to the lady. She
had left a rug in the cabin among the
fifty other rugs, and he had selected hers
and brought it on deck for her at the
precise time when she wanted it. Now
that showed observation on his part, to
know the exact shade and color of her
wrap, and she was gratified by the atten-
tion. Then there came flying scud, a
bicketfuI OF water, aboard, and monsieur
had interposed his coat just in time and
saved the Indy from q wetting. 1t was
natural that they should talk. Evidently
he was a man who, though he had trav-
elled much, had never yet been to the
United States; in fact, he told her that
at the second day of their acquaintance.
He wanted information. "Did the lady
know anything about the West9"
'Iotsl'' was Miss Melodies terse
reply; s'the West is my home. y
He had some idea of going to Montana,
or to California, but he was so ignorant
of the lay of the land. Europeans were
so stupid, and their conceptions of
America so false. Perhaps he might
ask some questions lady could not ex-
actly reply to, as to the possibilities Of
acquiring land in America, and its
value y Then Miss McBiddie confessed
her want of definite information.
'tBut papa is the man for you. Owns
o good deal of land in all the Terrific
ries, and has got it all down fine" re.
piled the lady, and that led up to an in
PRODUCTION to Colonel McBiddie.
.Certainly, we could fix you up right
away. Want quiet and rest, and the finest
climate in the world, and bit of hunt.
ing2 Know just the spot. There is a
ranch that would suit you to dot.
Come on to Denver, where / live, and
would be proud to show you round.
Just ask anybody for Colonel McBiddie,
and you will have no trouble in spotting
me-
That is about the way the intimacy
began.
TT would be SO nice, papa, to have a
man like that in Denver.n And that
night Ahneria McBiddie made many
clever plans 'tHis manners are very
elegant she thought 'sHe hasn't
said he was Prince or a Baron; but
what a nice foot he has and such we'll
kept hand and nervous fingers, that look
as II they would take strong grip of
anything they held There IS great
deal Of latent energy in the mar. Yes.
Monsieur Alexis pleases me more than
x any one / have met on this trip; and
strange, is it not, that / should find him
just as am going home? He told me
half Of his story to-day, when papa was
absent. On account of political opinions
he was obliged to leave Poland. His
lands were Just across the Russian bor-
DER And then Miss McBiddie went to
sleep and dreamed Of Thaddeus Of War
saw.
Colonel McBiddie had, however, asked
some leading questions of monsieur.
tsYou are not Nihilistg''
sOh, dear me, no. I am very thank
full that some ancestors of mine made
matters comparatively easy for me, their
indolent successor If they acquired a
poorcastle and some land by means which
might not be considered quite legitimate
to-day, am content to let things remain
as they are; only what might have been
right Or might ii the past will hardly do
for to-day. z differed with the Governor
Of my province, and took my precautions.
4 fed, but / had for some years before
taken my precautions and YOU cannot
blame me. You do not hold me Il the
wrong, Colonel2'' Is.
ooh, not at all. Y
1T might have been an act of coward
ice to leave, but still it was sacrifice;
for heretofore / have led q careless life,
with little care Of the morrow. Three
years ago sent such available means as